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A Fire Long Kindled  by Nilmandra 17 Review(s)
Idril TelrunyaReviewed Chapter: 2 on 11/6/2008
Oh wow, my face is burning right now..
Anyways, good story!

Author Reply: I am glad you enjoyed. I seem to remember my face burning when I wrote it. :>)

elliskaReviewed Chapter: 2 on 12/19/2005
I love Galadriel's conversation with Celebrian in this--don't I remember you saying that you wrote this for something else and ended up cutting it? It is so perfect here. So true the power Celebrian has because of Elrond's love for her. I love those lines!

And I must say I amused myself contemplating what Celeborn said to Elrond and what Galadriel's brothers must have said to Celeborn. *Scary*

And I loved Cirdan in this along with the gift he gave Celebrian and her touching his beard--it would be irresistible.

And as for the rest of it...*fans self* *whew* Geez, um I think I need to read that several (hundred) more times. ;-) Seriously, that was very well done! Loved it!

And I still have another chapter. :-)

Author Reply: I still have that piece... not sure if I will find a place for it, but I wrote kind of a precursor to it here - worked in nicely for that scene, should i find a place for it. I like writing Galadriel and Celebrian together - I can't see Celebrian as some pale reflection of her mother.

As for the rest of it... we can thank Elrond for going to visit you! It turns out when Elrond is not around to distract Celebrian, she is a quite forthcoming muse! I am glad you thought it was well done - I don't normally tread beyond PG13.

DotReviewed Chapter: 2 on 12/16/2005
So. Wow. Go Elrond! No wonder you want to be Celebrían.

Ok, with great difficulty I’ll drag myself back to the beginning of the chapter… :-)
I really like the fact that Celebrían doesn’t start this day with any hint of nerves. She’s excited but there’s also almost a serenity to her as she finally becomes what she has longed for. Of course, she had the best of the best organising her wedding! The dress sounds beautiful. I laughed when I read the bit about it having very few clasps, having an inkling of what was to come later!!

I’m always fascinated to see Galadriel as a mother. There’s actually something very special about her relationship with Celebrían, even though it’s completely different to the magic between Celebrían and Celeborn. I love what she says about Elrond, and the insight she gives her daughter. It’s a nice glimpse into what Galadriel feels for Elrond too that she knows that the thing he needs most is to be loved. It also shows the respect Celebrían has for her mother as well as Elrond that she is willing to listen to this, rather than just expect Elrond to be told to look after her. I’m trying to imagine the conversation between Finrod and Celeborn! For all that she speaks so casually about that now, I’d love to know what Galadriel made of his words at the time. And for whose sake Finrod said it… Of course, I highly doubt Celeborn disagreed with his words, but like Galadriel says, it must have been a bit of a shock! I thought the little hints about Celeborn and Galadriel’s relationship was a great touch. As well as being intriguing, it proves that no matter how much love is there, everyone needs to work at a relationship, that there’s give and take, good times and bad – and yet the love will endure and grow stronger over the years. Er, centuries. Actually, it’s a nice foreshadowing of the trouble between Elrond and Celebrían in HL2.

I nearly melted at the image of Celebrían twirling under her father’s hand! Celeborn is doing quite well, actually, for the father of the bride. But I suppose it helps that he and Galadriel are so fond of Elrond too.

I’m afraid I had great difficulty in giving poor Círdan my attention after reading about the “resplendent Lord of Imladris”… I thought it was one of the funniest moments of the whole chapter, though, when Celebrían actually whimpers when he steps between her and Elrond :-D There’s something very sweet about both Círdan and Celeborn trying to mind Celebrían’s outfit. I do love your happy!Círdan. I’m almost as glad to see him experience such joy as I am for Elrond. He’s obviously waited a long time for this day. And his gift is very generous and fitting. It has so much meaning for Elrond and represents so much history. I think Círdan really likes Celebrían too! Perhaps because she has such a childlike spirit. LOL at her touching the beard!

I thought you did a great job with the wedding, creating a sense of the day and of the atmosphere rather than telling us everything in detail - we share Elrond and Celebrían’s experience of knowing the joy and beauty and celebration happening around them but being too distracted to give anything their full attention. One of the most beautiful images is of the little circle of family against the setting sun as the vows are exchanged and blessings spoken. I love the idea of a very intimate moment in the midst of the celebrations for those who care so much about each other.

How lovely of Galadriel and Erestor to do up the rooms for them. I think if I needed something done efficiently around the house, it’s these two I’d want! You know what I love most about the whole love-making scene? How Elrond seems to know exactly what to do. This is new for both of them, but he seems to instinctively know what will tease her and give her pleasure and I just love seeing him so unselfconsciously take control. Equally, it was fun to see her explorations. I don’t blame her for fainting. I nearly did just reading it. I laughed when Elrond answered her private musings! He can be very wicked sometimes. But I like the little reminders that for them, this is more than just about joining of the body. I’m sure there’s probably something more intelligent I could be saying if I could just get past how hot this is! Wow! You say you’ve never written anything like this before? Hmm. Well, thank you for letting us share your fantasies such an intimate and important time – please don’t think less of me if I tell you I enjoyed every single second of it :-D

And it seems Celebrían has learned something by the next morning. Oh yeah, she’s going to be good at de-stressing her husband. I love seeing these two so playful and happy. And I can just imagine the knowing grins everyone else was wearing when they turned up for lunch! Right, onwards… Something tells me there could be children in their future… :-)




Author Reply: So. Wow. Go Elrond! No wonder you want to be Celebrían

That obvious, huh? LOL, I do love them together. I love Elrond happy like this.

I enjoyed writing the mother-daughter scene. I have wondered what kind of mother Galadriel was, and its hard for me to imagine her as a bad mother. She has grown wise and seen much. Also, her relationship with her daughter is one of those things that makes her just like everyone else. She is not this Queenly figure, this super powerful elf, the object of wrath and desire by various males who either hate her or fall in love with her -she is just Galadriel, Celebrian's mother.

I did have to think about the concept of the wedding and how uptight everyone might be. I didn't want it to be too modern in that sense, of how we make weddings into these affairs where quite often we forget what really is important. Brides so worried about the table decorations are not thinking about their husband to be. I like it when the wedding is a stepping stone to a big life change and that is the focus - its the two becoming one that is important.

I thought you did a great job with the wedding, creating a sense of the day and of the atmosphere rather than telling us everything in detail

Cool... if she had noticed every detail, then Elrond faded behind those details and I wanted him to fill her thoughts.

And if you thought it was romantic and a little erotic, I am pleased! I hope you meet and marry someone who becomes your Elrond and fills your thoughts and desires. Marriage should be wonderful - work, and filled with trying times and so on.. but the actual committment between husband and wife is something sacred. I love that they were virgins, that the two becoming one was a joinng of not just bodies, but minds and souls. As it should be, I think. My fantasy encompasses all of that, I admit! I was well pleased at the end of this.

Thanks as always for your wonderful reviews. :>)

EllieReviewed Chapter: 2 on 12/14/2005
THis is great! I've never seen you write something this steamy before. Well done!

Author Reply: Oh, I'm glad you think so. The bonding of the elves was more than physical, it was also of the mind and spirit, which seemd to me an intense thing. The joy they must have felt in marrying for love and for all time... if its the right person, it must be wonderful. Thank you.

KittyReviewed Chapter: 2 on 12/14/2005
She slipped into the dress and then allowing her mother to fasten the clasps, of which there were few. Very farsighted of Galadriel! Elrond will be thankful!

It’s very touching Círdan gave Celebrían the necklace which meant so much for Elrond’s family. Very fitting wedding gift.

As for the beard, I remember in Dreamflower’s „Eucatastrophe“ Gandalf told the hobbits his beard is there for hobbit children to play with it. Why shouldn’t be Círdan’s beard be there for elflings for the same reason? :)

The wedding was wonderful described, and I loved the idea of Círdan speaking in stead of Elrond’s father. He had helped to raise Elrond, after all, and I am sure he is something like a surrogate father to Elrond.

Even more wonderful was the wedding night. I’m a bit envious of Celebrían ...

Oh, and have I to mention the last line left me giggling helplessly?


Author Reply: Part of what was enjoyable in writing this was the chance to bring in some history - all made up, of course - into the story. Like the necklace or Cirdan's 100 year old permission letter. Elves are so long lived that their treasures would be pricelss artifacts (3000 year old pearls? 4000 year old saphhires?).. and for them are just something they held waiting for the right time.

LOL, I was envious of Celebrian too! I am glad Elrond lovd and was loved in return. And good, I hope you giggle plenty in chapter 3 too. :D

RadbooksReviewed Chapter: 2 on 12/14/2005
I am enjoying reading this story very much. It is wonderful to see the two of them at this time of their lives and to see their love and passion for one another. I loved when Celebrian met Cirdan in this chapter and he blocked her view of Elrond... very funny. In the last chapter when they were actually becoming betrothed and they didn't think they were chaponroned and later Celeborn and Glorfindel both teased them that yes they were, that was fun too.

Elrond is always pretty easy to tease though as he's so serious most of the time and to see him in this state is a wonderful thing for Glorfindel especially and I would think that even for Celeborn it is. He loves his precious daughter, but I would think that having her marrry Elrond would be wonderful for him. I remember when Elrond came of age and Celeborn welcomed him into his house, Celeborn was there as he was growing up. If your daughter 'has' to marrry someone, I doubt there is anyone else he would rather have her marry.

Nicely done and I look forward to the final chapter today!

Author Reply: Thanks, Radbooks. I enjoyed writing this time of joy and passion and new love for Elrond and Celebrian... characters become very real to us and I wanted them to have this time of great happiness.

I can't imagine Celeborn and Galadriel not wanting Elrond as a husband for their daughter ... they have known him long and he is of a fine lineage... I think Celeborn just enjoys teasing him :D

SurgicalSteelReviewed Chapter: 2 on 12/14/2005
*fans self*

Is it hot in here, or is it just me?

Lovely, really lovely!

Author Reply: Oh, I have a perfect cure *looks out at 6 inches of snow*... would you like a plastic or metal shovel?

However, very glad you liked it. :D

BodkinReviewed Chapter: 2 on 12/14/2005
Or was that lunch the next day?

What a great story - like chilli chocolate. Sweet and rich and hot.

The breathless anticipation - the sheer heart-stoppingness of seeing each other! And yet the maturity and gentleness and consideration for each other and for those around them.

Galadriel's wisdom - just great. I loved her doing Elwing's talk. And hearing of the words of wisdom from Finrod to Celeborn. I'm sure that Celeborn's words to Elrond were different! The dress sounds gorgeous - and I'm glad Galadriel gave some thought to Elrond and his shaking hands when it came to the removal of said gown!

Celebrian raising her adar's hand to repeat her little girl twirl - so sweet. Reminding him that whatever happens she is still his daughter and they share so many things that will never change. Celeborn is actually dealing with all this rather well. (Of course, Elrond makes a pretty good son-in-law. Not to mention being kin - and Elu's heir.) Of course, they've had time - and plenty of it - to get used to the idea.

The presence of Cirdan - and his substitute adar-ing of Elrond - is lovely. As is his beard! And Celebrian's understanding of his pseudo-grumpy enjoyment of the attention elflings give it. The whole build up to the wedding - and the increasing sexual tension between Elrond and Celebrian is beautifully done - and then they sneak off.

My, oh my. Lucky Celebrian. Lucky Elrond. Old enough - or maybe elven enough - (or lustful enough) - not to be embarrassed. What a wedding night! It must have been remarkably hard to write. And possibly even harder to post. Hot. Very, very hot. And yet avoiding ickiness. I'm very surprised they were considering making it to breakfast. But, of course, they were distracted before they got there. It might be rather hard for the other inhabitants of Imladris to get Elrond's attention for a while. But I'm sure they'll be able to manage.

I'm sure I've forgotten all sorts of gems - like Celebrian's necklace - and Glorfindel - and their total unawareness of what they were being fed - and the dance. But well done.

Author Reply: I enjoyed the mother-daughter time, I admit. Galadriel and Celebrian (in my world) are very different in some ways and yet alike in others. Celebrian and Celeborn are fun to write together - she has her adar twisted right around her little finger - merry elves, who enjoy a good laugh.

This was remarkably fun to write, although admittedly cold showers were useful at times. I was nervous to post it, as I thought that first, it was too much and second, it wasdn't good enough. Not exactly my genre, after all!

Elrond might be surprised to learn at some later date that a casket of wine broke open and flooded the kitchen, causing elves to slip and fall and wipe out an entire set of glassware and at least a few of the dishes aboutto be served; that Valandil's men imbibed a bit too much of the wine and Glorfindel had to stop a rather tipsy archery contest before someone really got hurt and then a contingent of warriors had to ride out to take out some orcs. He really was blind that night to everything but his bride!

The KarenatorReviewed Chapter: 2 on 12/14/2005
Well, when the spaniel heard you wanted to hear from her, there was no leash strong enough to hold her back. All I can do is apologize.

I give you Chapter Two by Danielle Spaniel:

It was a beautiful day in Imladris, the home of Elrond Peredhel, the lord of luscious gardens, silvery waterfalls, and towering trees with a lot of different, but inordinately nice names. This was her wedding day, the day she had dreamed about for so long she had forgotten when she started longing for the day when she would become Mrs. Peredhel. Now the day was finally here. Celebrían Celeborniel would have a new name, a new life, a new role as the lady of the house, the gardens, the silvery waterfalls and the towering trees with a lot of different, but inordinately nice names. She loved Elrond with all her heart, so much in fact, she vowed to learn the names of each and every towering tree.

Their courtship had not been an easy one. The moment she had laid eyes upon his beautiful visage, she fell head over heels for him. For more years than she liked to count, she had waited patiently for him to get over the melancholy of his soiled memories from wars, deaths, desertions. A shadow of despair had hung about him like a cloak that dragged the ground in a willowy shroud. Celebrían did not give up; she did not desert him during his crepe hanging years. She persevered. Today was her reward for loving him no matter the distance he put between them, no matter the unshed tears he held close to his wounded and bleeding heart, no matter how hopeless he seemed in his cloud of pain and isolation. He'd get over it.

With the aid of her beautiful, golden-blonde, psychic mother, Celebrían donned her exquisite wedding dress of a delicate blue as silvery as a waterfall in moonlight. A wreath of tiny, sweet flowers of white and palest sapphire sat upon her head like a crown fit for the queen of a fragrant and butterfly-blessed garden.

Celebrían arrived at the beautifully and tastefully decorated porch hung with twinkling lanterns, swags of plaited honeysuckle, nodding roses and the cheery faces of white and yellow daisies. From the gasp of the assembled crowd, she knew the finest flowers of all Imladris dimmed in her presence.

The murmur of the crowd rose to a jubilant clamor as the people who would soon be her people greeted her, *but her ears were too long accustomed to the sounds of celebrating elves to be disturbed by the noise. She enjoyed it, she thrived on it. It was part of the very fiber of her being, just as the mad pace of being important was part of her. It would be impossible for her to live without it.*

She joined in the revelry with *her quick laughter; the sudden flash of diamonds set in rich azure eyes; her way of understanding what was behind what people said, who they were, why they were, what they were and weren't and dreamed of being. Celebrían was a magical elf woman in a marvelous world.* She would stand at the side of her beloved as his most valuable asset in ruling the most peaceful, the most beautiful, the most welcoming of all elven realms, the Last Homely House for all weary travelers and poor relations, the descendents of Elrond's twin brother, Elros, long dead, but still held with much love in the hearts of those who knew him. She was not bothered in the least by the smelly, mud-splattered kin of her dear Elrond's brother; every family had one or two.

Her pleasure with being the center of attention suddenly disappeared as the man of her dreams approached from the dark shadows of the main corridor off the fern-decorated atrium to emerge as brightly as the sun coming from behind dark, misty, gray storm clouds. Her breath caught as she looked upon the tall, dark, incredibly beautiful Elrond Peredhel. His hair gleamed in the light, dark and as sleek as obsidian, as if in appreciation for his love for her. Powerful shoulders could not be hidden under the thick folds of the luscious, soft, deep-blue velvet of his formal robes. Soon, she reminded herself, soon she would have the privilege of seeing what was under those obscuring swaths of fabric. Her face burned, but she could not help that her eyes traveled the length of his solid, muscular body to the place of his hidden delights. There was nothing more she wanted than to fall into his well shaped arms, naked and vulnerable to his lovemaking. His eyes darkened with desire as she gazed upon him; his desire was for only her. Her breath left her as quickly as a startled rabbit rushing to hide itself from a falling star so bright it lit the night sky like a torch. Her whole body was alight, alight for him and what wonders awaited her this night when finally she truly joined with this magnificent elf.

At last when the ceremony had been completed and the feast was in full swing, Elrond took her milky-white, tiny hand in his larger, stronger hand and with a smile full of love for the dawn of a new life, he led her to the expertly and professionally decorated chambers she would now call her own. So filled with desire for her, Elrond could not wait for her to find out which drawer her nighty had been lovingly placed in by her own stunningly beautiful mother, but pulled her to him with a passion that had simmered for hundreds of years like kettle set to boil.

His mouth crushed hers and a wave of desire crested over her like the sea rushing to caress the shore. Fingers nimbly worked the tiny closures of her silvery-blue, fabulously embroidered wedding dress until suddenly she found herself standing naked in a puddle of silk as shimmery as a lake in the midsummer sun. Just when she thought she could no longer trust the strength of her legs, Elrond swept her into his arms as easily as if he had scooped up a perfectly-made doll of the finest china from the Far East where the Easterlings lived, but they were enemies, and such china was hard to get there over the Misty Mountains in Imladris where she was now the lady of the house.

His hands were like fire brands, branding her as his own, as he roved over her pearl-white skin, claiming her. Celebrían touched and tasted him to her own delight, running her hands over the defined muscles of his chest, the hard sculpted curves of his arms and through the downy silk of the hair that ran from his adorable navel all the way home. And it was indeed a home run. Several, in fact. Never again would she be alone, nor would Elrond ever feel abandoned or mournful for all the dead people in his life. She would be with him always, loving him, being loved by him, and as his wife, the lady of the house, she would reign supreme in happiness and wallow in bed with him until somebody made them get up. Or until orcs attacked. And she did have all those inordinately nice tree names to memorize.

Danielle Spaniel

*Denotes paraphrased lines from the works of the real Danielle Steel. Tweaked without permission and most likely to the horror of the author. Let us hope she never reads this, and if she does, takes it as compliment that she's the queen of the romance genre.





Author Reply: ROFLOL! It has been a more than two decades since I read a Danielle Steele novel, and only a few at that.... and those lines are priceless. She is the Queen, I bow to her superior use of descriptive adjectives - azure, obsidian, pearl? I am so boring!

Pat Danielle Spaniel on the head for me. Two bones for this prize. Good dog!

SiorahReviewed Chapter: 2 on 12/13/2005
Wonderful!!!! I love this story arc. I am always impressed by your writing, your talent is great. I hope to read more from you soon.

Many Thanks!

Kathleen


Author Reply: Thanks, Kathleen - glad you enjoyed it!

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